2024 NFL Draft grades: Detroit Lions turn in top-10 draft class

A look at how NFL Draft analysts are grading the Detroit Lions’ 2024 draft class.

The Detroit Lions’ 2024 NFL Draft class will likely be known for the aggressiveness from the team’s front office. The Lions had six overall selections this year, and four of those picks were made after a trade up. Detroit spent 2024 third and seventh-round picks, and 2025 third and fourth-round picks to eventually get the players they wanted.

Lions general manager Brad Holmes has said several times over the course of four years that if his front office has resolve on a player, they’re going go and get him. Thus far, there aren’t many instances of that strategy not working.

But do NFL analysts agree with that strategy?

Looking at the morning-after draft grades from across the media, it appears the Lions have earned a certain amount of trust. In a survey of 11 different league-wide draft grades, every single evaluator gave the Lions a B- or higher, with nearly half offering a grade in the A range.

Additionally, well over half of the analysts had Detroit with a top-10 draft class this year.

Here’s a look at the overall grades and analysis for the Lions’ 2024 draft class.

PFF (Trevor Sikkema): A

The Lions continue to rebuild a defense that ranked 30th in coverage grade in 2023. Rakestraw, the 46th-ranked player on the PFF big board, is a physical cornerback who excels in zone coverage. He posted an 85.2 PFF zone coverage grade in 2023. The Lions have completely revamped their cornerback room in just one offseason.

The Ringer (Danny Kelly): A

“Arnold gives the team a plug-and-play starter and ball-hawking playmaker on the outside. GM Brad Holmes didn’t stop there, grabbing another potential future starter at cornerback in Missouri’s Ennis Rakestraw Jr. (my 42nd overall player) in the second round. Rakestraw is slightly undersized but makes up for it with his tenacious, physical style. The Lions made one of the more interesting picks of Day 3 as well, nabbing a physical marvel in University of British Columbia’s Giovanni Manu. Manu stands 6-foot-7, 352 pounds and has the athletic traits that suggest he could develop into a starting tackle for Detroit.”

Sports Illustrated (Matt Verderame): A

“GM Brad Holmes is the new Howie Roseman. What do I mean by that? Sensible draft choices that aggressively target areas of need, and a relentless pursuit of those picks. The Lions nabbed two of the draft’s best cornerbacks to help them patch a secondary that may have been their biggest Achilles heel last season. Holmes and coach Dan Campbell are a force together, one of the few GM and coach combinations who seem to be truly on the same page.”

Sporting News (Vinnie Iyer): A

“The Lions didn’t have much unfinished business after GM Brad Holmes crushed the draft and free agency in the two previous seasons. The top of that list by far was getting two starting-caliber cornerbacks who could fit well and make a lot of plays in Aaron Glenn’s scheme. Arnold and Rakestraw can help clean up the makeshift mess from 2023.”

Bleacher Report (staff): A-

The bottom line is that Detroit entered draft weekend with one obvious need. General manager Brad Holmes addressed it with his first two picks without reaching for prospects who can’t contribute early.

The rest of Detroit’s draft wasn’t exactly filled with value, but again, the Lions are adamant about trusting their board.

USA Today (Nate Davis): B

“They’ve now tripled down an 27th-ranked pass defense, drafting CBs Terrion Arnold (Round 1) and Ennis Rakestraw (Round 2) – they join trade arrival Carlton Davis III – as this team continues to load up for the ever-elusive Super Bowl run. Alabama’s charismatic Arnold, in particular, should be a great culture fit and beloved figure in Motown based on his reception from the locals Thursday night.”

NFL.com (Chad Reuter): B

“The Lions doubled up at corner in the first and second rounds, flexing their aggressiveness by trading a third-rounder to move up for Arnold instead of staying put and possibly selecting his ‘Bama teammate, Kool-Aid McKinstry. Detroit got fair value on Rakestraw at the end of Round 2, though the team also could have used another edge rusher or receiver.”

ESPN (Mel Kiper): B

“I thought Holmes should have targeted a wideout on Day 3, though, and Round 4 was just too high for Giovanni Manu (126), on whom we have limited data. He played against bad competition in Canada. Detroit surrendered its 2025 third-round pick to trade up, too. The Mekhi Wingo (189) selection is outstanding — I have him ranked higher than his former teammate, Jordan Jefferson, who went at No. 116. Sione Vaki (132) played both running back and safety at Utah, and I like him better on offense.”

Associated Press (Rob Maaddi): B

“Traded up to get CB Terrion Arnold (24) and strengthened the pass defense even more with CB Ennis Rakestraw Jr. in the second round.”

New York Post (Ryan Dunleavy): B

“One year after acing their draft with unconventional picks, the Lions focused on higher-value positions, including a trade up to steal Arnold, who was pushed down by the 14 straight offensive players at the start. Can Vaki continue playing two ways in the NFL?”

CBS (Chris Trapasso): B-

Arnold is squeaky clean and has upside because of his complete game. Vaki is such an energetic safety who can do everything in any defensive back position. He’s just small. Wingo can get up the field from the inside. For as much as I love what the Lions have done over the past three years, especially in the draft, after the back-to-back cornerback picks, I didn’t love what Detroit did in this draft.